by Thomas George

Filed under: Vikings

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The strength and tenderness of Adrian Peterson is always within reach for the Minnesota Vikings. It serves as comfort. It inspires.

Like one of his stop-and-go, juke-and-twirl, stiff-arming runs, Peterson's life has been full of taxing push-and-pull. He rattles off nuggets of the three numbing events of his life -- holding his eight-year-old dying brother in his arms at age seven, coping for eight years beginning at age 12 while his father was in prison, and enduring the murder of his half-brother before the 2007 NFL combine -- with vigor. He treats those troubles as if they were an anointing.

His teammates, coaches and Vikings ownership call this running back, at age 24 and in his third NFL season, an icon, an ambassador. Humble. Ears open. That big smile.

Most Vikings know to expect anything from Adrian Peterson in their quest to be champions. Others expect everything.

Vikings Put Faith in Adrian Peterson originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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